This lightweight shell with all-season features provides solid protection when a downpour sets in for the long haul. Waterproof and extremely breathable GORE-TEX fabric shrugs off the wearand-tear of the trail, while TorsoFlo side zippers allow poncho-style ventilation when body heat needs to escape. Feature rich, this jacket works as hard as you do, but packs down tight once the weather breaks.

The Outdoor Research Rain Jacket I bought for my backpacking trip to Patagonia. I'm absolutely thrilled, even in the strongest wind and heaviest rain I had a comfortable and dry feeling in this waterproof jacket.

A detail I wasn't aware when buying are the Torso/Poncho zips. It is possible to open the pit-zip all the way down to the hip and let the air flow. That is quite convenient, when wearing a heavy backpack and you don't want to put it down and up during changing weather conditions. I also like that this Gore-Tex Rain Jacket has a slightly longer torso and reaches the middle of my hip.